Take:To accept a male in coitus. Also, a lay term meaning to become pregnant

Tallow:The fat of cattle and sheep

Tanbark Trail:A term often associated with those who exhibit animals in competition at fairs and livestock shows

Tandem Parlour:Parlour design where cows line up head to tail in individually opening stalls

Tandem Selection:Selection for one trait at a time. When the desired level is reached I one trait, the selection is practised for a second trait

Tank:A depression formed in the ground for the purpose of holding water, usually natural water such as rain water or intermittent stream water. Used mostly in the south-west

Tanker Load:In milk collection and distribution, large quantities of milk in a large stainless steel tank-borne on a transport truck--the method of transporting milk

Tanning:The process of turning a hide into leather using either vegetable tannins or from tannins bearing woods or barks or using chromium sulphate. The tanning process

Target Weight:The weight all animals in a group should reach and contrasts greatly to an average weight

Tariff:A tax imposed on commodity imports by a government. A tariff may be either a fixed charge per unit of product imported (specific tariff) or a fixed percentage of value (ad valorem tariff)

Tarsus:(see Hock Joint)

Tartar:A build-up of bacteria, saliva, and food on the teeth which becomes mineralized, forming a hard coating and eventually causing gum disease and possibly tooth loss

Tattoo:An indelible or permanent means of identification generally placed in the animal's ear(s). The tattoo typically would include numbers and letters and would indicate an identification number as well as the year the animal was born

Tattoo Number:Numbers, and sometimes letters, tattooed in the ear or ears to permanently identify the animal

TB:(see Tuberculosis)

TDN:Total digestible nutrients; includes the total amounts of digestible protein, nitrogen-free extract, fibre, and fat (multiplied by 2.25), all summed together

Teaser Bull:Vasectomised bull used to locate cows on heat

Teat:The appendage on a cow’s udder through which milk from the udder flows. Dairy cows commonly have four teats

Teat Clamp:A clamp used for amputation of an infected and lacerated teat due to mastitis

Teat Dip:Pre and Post-milking - Substance that kills bacteria and helps to seal the teat end to prevent entry of bacteria into the udder between milkings. May contain emollients to improve teat end condition for use in cold, winter conditions

Teat Placement:Teat placement is an essential conformation trait in regard to the cow's workability, longevity and udder health. That is why much emphasis is given to teat placement

Teat Sealant:A product that forms a mechanical barrier on the teat end to protect the teat. Generally used at dry-off after antibiotic infusion

Technical Efficiency:A ratio of the quantity of physical output to quantify of physical input. It does not indicate profitability or economic efficiency

Temperament: (see Disposition)

Tempering Grain:The process of adding water to dry grain to increase moisture content to facilitate rolling of grains

Temporary Environment Effect (Et):An environmental effect that influences a single performance record of an animal but does not permanently influence the animal's performance potential for the repeated trait

Temporomandibular Joint:The joint where the lower jaw bone, or the mandible, meets the skull

Ten Point Milk and Dairy Beef Residue Protection Protocol:Designed by veterinarians and milk producer organisations to avoid contamination of milk with antibiotics. It identifies the 10 points in milk production where milk is at greatest risk for antibiotic contamination of milk

Tender Stretch:A procedure of suspending the animal by the aitch bone so that the muscles in the loin and the rib area are physically restrained from contraction

Tenderness:Easily chewed or cut

Tendon:The tough fibrous connective tissue at the ends of muscle bundles that attach the muscle to bone or cartilage

Tensor Fasciae Antibrachii:One of the triceps brachii muscles, which helps extend the elbow. It begins at the scapula and humerus and ends at the ulna

Tensor Fasciae Latae:A major muscle of the bottom sirloin. It begins in the extreme ventral side of the knuckle and ends in the bottom sirloin butt

Terminal Crossbreeding:The systematic crossing of different breeds or crossbreds where all progeny are marketed

Terminal Market:Large livestock collection centre where an independent organisation serves as a selling agent for the livestock owner

Terminal Progeny:The final progeny delivered through a crossbreeding program

Terminal Sires:Sires used in a crossbreeding system in which all of the progeny, both male and female, are marked. For example, crossbred dams could be bred to terminal sires of a third breed and all calves marketed. Although this system allows maximum heterosis and complementary of breeds, replacement females must come from other herds

Terms of Trade:The quantity of imports that can be purchased through the sale of a fixed quantity of exports, expressed as a single ratio of the relative prices

Test:A procedure performed to identify disease-causing or disease-related organisms or chemicals, in a body tissue such as blood or serum

Test Cross:A mating designed to reveal the genotype of an individual for a locus or a small number of loci

Test Day Average:The current production or other data on the cows in the herd on test day

Test Day Data:The production information calculated for a cow on test day. This will include milk, fat %, protein % and somatic cell count information

Test Interval:The day following the previous test day through the current test day

Test Interval Method:The Test Interval method is used for calculating production records as described in the National DHIA Uniform Operating Procedures

Test Period Average:The average production that occurred during the time between tests. This includes all cows in the herd during the time period. Milking and dry cows are included as well as new and left cows for the time frame they were in the herd. As an example, suppose the test interval is 30 days and a cow produced 70 lbs. on the previous test day and 60 lbs. this test day. Her test interval production is (15 days X 70 lbs.) + (15 days X 60 lbs.) = 1.950 lb. or an average (1950/30) of 65 lbs

Test Period Persistency Index:Provides a means to determine if the herd produced as expected during the current month based on the previous month’s production. Each cow’s expected % change in production from last month to this month is computed as the ratio of each cow’s standardised 150-day milk for the last two test days. An average ratio is computed to determine the test period persistency for the herd

Test Plan:The recording plan or type of testing procedure that occurs on test day

Tester:One who weighs, samples, and tests milk. Also called a test supervisor

Testicle:The male sex gland that produces sperm and testosterone

Testosterone:The male sex hormone that stimulates the accessory sex glands, causes the male sex drive and causes the development of masculine characteristics

Tetanus:An acute infectious disease caused by toxin elaborated by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, in which toxic spasms of some of the voluntary muscles occur

Tetany:Involuntary contraction of muscles

Tether:To tie an animal with a rope or chain to allow grazing but prevent straying

Texas Cattle Fever:Serious tick – borne virus

Texas Gate:(see Cattle Guard)

Texas Ribs:Beef back ribs

Thalamus:Either of two masses of grey matter lying between the cerbal hemispheres on either side of the third ventricle of the brain. The dorsal part of the diencephalon, the rostral most part of the brainstem, above the third ventricle. Embedded between the cerebral hemispheres, the thalamus is a very important relay for optic, auditory and cerebellum pathways

Thorax:(1) Thoracic cavity;(2) the chest;(3) the cavity enclosed by the rib cage and the diaphragm

Three - in - one Package:A pregnant female animal with her unweaned calf at her side

Threshold Model:Statistical procedures for analysing traits that are expressed in an all – or – none fashion (alive vs dead or pregnant vs open) but that probably are affected by environmental factors and by genes at many loci. When genetic predictions are conducted for such traits using the threshold model, resultant EPDs reflect the expected proportion of an individual’s progeny that will vs will not express the trait

Thrifty:Healthy and vigorous in appearance

Thrombocytopaenia:The medical term that refers to a low or reduced platelet count

Thromboembolic Disease:A condition in which a blood vessel is obstructed by an embolus carried in the bloodstream from the site of formation

Thromboembolism:Thrombosis is the usual forerunner of embolism, pieces of the thrombus breaking off the main mass and lodging in more distal parts of the vascular system

Thoroughpin:A hard swelling that is located between the Achilles tendon and the bone of the hock joint

Thymus Gland:A ductless gland-like structure located in or near the thoracic inlet, which reaches a maximum development in the young animal and then regresses in size with age. The portion of the gland located inside the beef thoracic cavity is called the heartbread

Thyroid Gland:Large gland that secretes hormones to control metabolism

Thyroprotein:(see Iodinated casein)

Tibia:The larger and thicker of the two bones of the hind leg between the stifle and the hock

Tick:Wingless bloodsucking insect that infest during summer

Tie:Depression or dimple in the back of cattle caused by an adhesion of the hide to the backbone

Tie Stall Parlour:The facility is frequently used for both housing and milking. Cows are tied and milked with the cow and operator on the same level

Time Management:Manner in which time is utilised to achieve specific goals

Time Recording Device:A mechanical/electronic device that automatically monitors the interval between milkings. The time is expressed in hours plus minutes, and the device must display the starting and ending time of the previous milking

Times Bred:The number of times a service has been reported for a cow since her last calving date

Times Milked:Cows are normally milked twice per day with records being labelled 2x; however, cows may be milked more frequently (3x, 4x, etc.)

Titer:The quantity of a substance required to produce a reaction with a given volume of another substance or the amount of one substance required to correspond with a given amount of another substance. Agglutination titer is the highest dilution of a serum that causes clumping of bacteria

Titratable Acidity:A measure of titratable hydrogen ions. Includes H+ ions free in solution and those associated with acids and proteins

Titre:Is a measure of concentration. Normally refers to the level of antibodies in blood to a particular antigen

Tolerance:Maximum legally allowable level or concentration of a drug or chemical in a food product at the time the milk is marketed or the animal is slaughtered

Top Side:The sire's side of the pedigree

Topical:Application of a drug or other substance to the skin surface or an external membrane usually concentrated in a small area

ToR:Term(s) of Reference

Topline:The area between the animal’s withers and the beginning of its tail

Torsion of Uterus:Condition in which the uterus and contents have flipped over, putting a corkscrew twist in the vagina

Total Body Electrical Conductivity (TOBEC):An instrumental method of measuring the amount of lean tissue in a carcass by passing it through an electromagnetic field

Total Digestive Nutrients (TDN):Indicator of feedstuff energy content; calculated using the acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, crude protein, and ash components of the feedstuff to give an estimated value of energy

Total Feed Costs:This is the sum of the cost of concentrates plus all additional feeds per cow

Total Mixed Rations (TMR):A nutritionally-balanced blend of forage and grain ingredients mixed by a machine to specific rations. This method allows cows to consume the desired proportion of forages when two or more forages are offered

Total Pregnant Cows:The total number of pregnant cows on that test day

Totipotent:Retaining full developmental potential (that is undifferentiated). For example, a totipotent cell from an embryo has the potential to develop into a normal embryo (and then into a live animal), under the right conditions

Toxaemia:A generic term for the presence of toxin in the blood

Toxemia:(see Toxaemia)

Toxicity:The capacity of a substance to produce injury to the organism

Toxins:The poisons produced by certain microorganisms. They are products of cell metabolism. The symptoms of bacterial diseases, such as diphtheria, tetanus, botulism, and staphylococcal food poisoning, are caused by toxins

Toxoid:A denatured toxin. It retains the ability to stimulate the formation of antitoxin in an animal's body

Trace Element:Minerals that are essential for the animal’s normal body function and health, required in very small quantities. Examples include copper, cobalt, iodine, selenium, zinc and manganese

Traceability:The use of the USDA’s animal trace processing system (ATPS) for tracking an animal(s) movement

Trachea:Windpipe leading from the throat to the lungs

Tracheobronchitis:Refers to inflammation of the trachea and bronchi

Trading:The practice of buying and selling of livestock

Trait:Distinguishing characteristics

Trait Code:A standard abbreviation used to represent a trait such as WW for Weaning Weight

Trait Leader:An animal that has been recognised as a herd leader for breeding value of a specific trait

Trait Ratio:An expression of an animal’s performance for a particular trait relative to the herd or contemporary group average. It is usually calculated for most traits as:

Individual Record

-------------------------------------- X 100

Average of animals in group

Tranquilizer:A medication to calm and relax an animal

Transcriptase:Enzymes involved in the production of single-stranded RNA complementary to one strand of DNA or, rarely, RNA

Transcription:The process by which an RNA copy is made from a gene

Transfusion:A transfer of blood from one animal to another of the same species

Transgene:Foreign gene inserted into a cell (usually an embryo)

Transgenic Animals:Animals that contain genes transferred from other animals, usually from a different species

Transient:Short lasting

Transient Infection:An animal meets an infection, makes antibodies to it and recovers with no permanent side effects. For example, an animal could become infected by BVD after an outing, the animal mounts an immune response, produces antibodies, then by increasing its body temperature for a short period, recovers with no further symptoms.

However, the transient infection may have left the animal temporarily infertile, and if not quarantined could shed virus for a short period, potentially infecting other animals

Transition Cow:A cow that is from 2 months before 1 month after expected calving date

Transition Housing:Barns designed especially for transition cows, often including a maternity area

Translation:The process by which ribosomes use the nucleotide sequence in RNA to synthesise proteins

Transmission:Spread from one infected animal to a previously uninfected animal

Transplant:A transfer of tissue from one location to another or from one animal to another

Transverse Processes:Spinous processes; commonly called finger bones

Transverse Tubules:Invagination of the sarcolemma to form a network of tubules into the centre portion of the muscle fibre

Trapezius:A muscle which helps move the scapula. The trapezius is triangular shaped. It extends along the spinal column from the cervical vertebrae to the last few thoracic vertebrae

Tray – Ready Beef:Retail cuts that are cut and packaged at the packing plant for retail sales; also referred to as case-ready

Trenbolone Acetate:Active ingredient in some implants approved for feedlot cattle

Triceps Brachii, Long Head:The largest of the triceps brachii muscles which help extend the elbow. It begins at the scapula and ends at the ulna

Trichomoniasis:An infection of the genital and urinary tract

Trigger Height:A specified median or mean height of certain specified grasses or sedges that when reached, initiate the movement of livestock to another grazing area so that livestock and range managers can be more confident in meeting required end-of-season stubble heights. Trigger heights are usually measured along the edge of creek banks and are used as a management tool to help ranchers or permittees meet riparian area stubble heights

Trimness:Freedom from excess fat and flabbiness in the brisket, underline, and flanks

Tripe:Edible product from walls of ruminant stomach

Trocar:A special tool used to pierce the rumen and allow the gas to escape through the trocar

Trochanter:A ball of the femur on which the hipbone turns in the socket

Trochars:A large sharp – pointed cannula

Tromp Shed:(see Open Barn)

Tropomyosin:A regulatory protein found in the grooves of a f-actin filament. A strand of tropomyosin lies alongside each groove of the actin superhelix, and a single molecule extends the length of the actin filament. During the resting state of the muscle, tropomyosin covers the binding sites of actin so that myosin is unable to bind

Troponin:A regulatory protein found in the grooves of a f-actin filament with one Troponin molecule for every seven g-actin molecules. Troponin is responsible for regulating the interaction of the myosin and actin during contraction

Trough:A long, shallow container that holds animal food or water OR a shallow ditch where manure goes before it is taken away

Tuberosity:A slight elevation from the surface of a bone giving attachment to a muscle or ligament

Tumour:A tumour is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumours can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign)

TVR:Transvaginal Oocyte Recovery. A non-surgical method of collecting oocytes from living animals. These oocytes then undergo in vitro maturation, fertilisation and culture to produce embryos for transfer

Twist:Vertical measurement from top of the rump to point where hind legs separate

Type:(1) The physical conformation of an animal (2) All those physical attributes that contribute to the value of an animal for a specific purpose